Seasonal influenza vaccination in childhood and adolescence. Consensus of the AEV, CAV-AEP and SEIP.

Abstract

Influenza is an important public health problem that puts healthcare systems to the test each year with outbreaks that constitute a significant social and economic burden. The proportion of the pediatric population affected during the annual influenza season ranges between 30% and 40% worldwide, with 2-4 million severe cases in children under 18 years of age globally. Children and adolescents are also the main transmitters of the disease. The consensus document presented here was developed jointly by three scientific societies: the Spanish Association of Vaccinology (AEV), the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, through its Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunizations (CAV-AEP), and the Spanish Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP). Routine influenza vaccination is recommended for children from 6 months of age and for adolescents up to 17 years of age (both included). Vaccination is also recommended for any individual that could transmit the virus to groups at increased risk of developing severe forms of disease and for household or close contacts of infants aged less than 6 months. Vaccination against influenza of all health care professionals as well as pregnant women (at any time during pregnancy) is especially important. For children aged 2 years or older and adolescents, unless contraindicated, vaccination with attenuated intranasal vaccine is preferred. Efforts should be made to improve influenza vaccination coverage in all the recommended groups, with particular emphasis on at-risk groups.